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On July 18th 2008, for the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Metropolitan of Berati, His Grace Ignati, clergy and faithful from all over the country participated in the festivities which had been organized by the Diocese of Berati. The day began with a Liturgy in the Church of St. Spiridon, concelebrated by His Grace Ignati of Berati, His Grace Joani of Korca, his Grace Dhimitri of Gjirokaster, His Grace Andoni, assistant to Archbishop Anastasios, and a number of other clergy. |
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Following the Liturgy Metropolitan Ignati received congratulations in the Metropolis buildings of Berat and then attended a lunch in his honor at the Tourism Hotel. Three of the festivity’s organizers, Fr. Kostandin Subashi, Sevastiani and Joan Qako, had prepared an artistic program including Christian songs composed by His Grace Ignati and sung by the youth choir of the Church. They also made a presentation on the developments of the Metropolis of Berati in this 10 years. Nearby there was a photographic exposition of the life, work, and pastoral acts of Metropolitan Ignati in the Berati Diocese.
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His Grace Ignati then spoke and having thanked God he expressed his deep gratitude for Archbishop Anastasios, who “during a 6 year period when, for objective reasons, there were no bishops or Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania, took upon himself with great self-sacrifice all the unimaginable care and difficulties. Therefore His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios deserves deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks for this titanic work…”. After speaking for the importance of the enthronement he further mentioned that it was that very same day that the Holy Synod had gathered together for the first time.
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Throughout the day the faithful, clergy and all those in attendance expressed among other things: “The Lord hasn’t abandoned us. He sent us primates to our church and resurrected what had been dead”. And His Grace Ignati, while blessing them said: “You are worthy! You are good people.”
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Julia Pjetri, Sevastianí Qako
Translated and edited by Georgia Bendo
